The Effect of a Periodic Visiting Education Program on Food Safety Knowledge of Cooks in Children's Foodservice Facilities

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a visiting inspection and knowledge-based food safety education program for cooks in child care facilities provided by the Center for Children’s Foodservice Management (CCFSM). The research was conducted among cooks at 91 child care facilities; 56 existing facilities had been enrolled since 2011 and provided with the inspection and education program for 2 years and 35 new facilities were enrolled in 2012 and provided with the program for 1 year. The food safety knowledge of the cooks of the two groups were compared by the presence and duration of inspection and education programs provided by the CCFSM. The total mean score for food safety knowledge was 18.48±3.09, with a group score of 19.34±2.68 for the existing facilities and 17.11±3.25 for the new facilities (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between groups in the knowledge of the personal sanitation. According to a post-test for food safety knowledge in the two groups after the completion of a one-year program on food safety by CCFSM, the mean score of food safety knowledge increased by 2.92 to 20.03 for cooks of the new facilities and both groups had significantly higher mean scores than pre-test (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the mean score of each group by post-test. Thus, the one-year continuous program by CCFSM was effective in improving food safety knowledge of the cooks of the child care facilities.